You're definitely echoing a common sentiment! The explosion of bowl games is something many college football fans have noticed and have mixed feelings about. You're right, back in the day, the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Cotton Bowl (the "big four") were huge deals.Here's why the feeling of prestige has changed: Proliferation

49 bowl games is a massive number compared to the past. With so many, the novelty has worn off and the selection process has become very different.

Bowl Eligibility

With so many bowl slots to fill, teams with losing records (typically 6-6) can now participate. This dilutes the sense of accomplishment needed to get there.

Sponsorships

Corporate sponsorships have become integral to bowl games. The names can sometimes feel a bit silly or less meaningful than the traditional bowl names.

Opt-outs

Star players are increasingly choosing to skip bowl games to protect their health before entering the NFL draft. This can diminish the quality of play and the excitement for fans.

Playoff Impact

The College Football Playoff has become the ultimate goal. For many teams, a non-playoff bowl game feels like a consolation prize rather than a major accomplishment.

Conference Tie-ins

Some bowls are tied to conferences that don't have a lot of national prestige.

Coaching Changes

Head coaches and coordinators sometimes leave before a bowl game to take a new job at another school. This can affect the level of preparation and motivation for the team.Despite the change in perception, bowl games still offer some value:

Extra Practice

They give teams valuable extra practice time, especially for younger players.

Exposure

Bowl games are televised, providing national exposure for the universities and their programs.

Fan Travel and Revenue

Bowls drive tourism revenue for the host cities and generate income for the participating schools.*

Concluding Season Narrative: Bowl games still provide a culminating event and often entertaining matchups for fans.Ultimately, whether you view the current bowl system as a positive or a negative probably depends on your perspective. Many older fans share your nostalgia for the days when bowl games were fewer and felt much more significant. Flag for review